SPOKE FOR NON-PNEUMATIC TIRE HAVING EXTENDED NOSE REINFORCEMENT
A spoke for a non-pneumatic tire is provided that has a nose that engages first and second panels that extend from the nose. An extended nose reinforcement engages the first panel, the second panel, a first foot, and a second foot. Also, the extended nose reinforcement is located between the first panel and the first foot and is located between the second panel and the second foot.
The subject matter of the present invention relates to a spoke for a non-pneumatic tire that features an extended nose reinforcement. More particularly, the present application involves an extended nose reinforcement that extends along panels of the spoke so as to be located between these panels and the feet of the spoke.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNon-pneumatic tires can be made of a series of spokes attached to a hub on one end and a shear band on the other. The tread of the tire is located on the outer surface of the shear band. The plurality of spokes can be V shaped with two legs, two feet, and a nose located generally in the middle. In order to strengthen the nose, it has been proposed to place stiffening layers onto the nose. The first stiffening layer has cords that are oriented 45 degrees to the radial direction of the tire. The second stiffening layer is placed onto the first stiffening layer and also includes cords that are oriented at 45 degrees to the radial direction of the tire, so that the tissue that is used is a two ply tissue with each ply having a woven fabric oriented at +/−45 degrees to the radial direction. This design is robust from a product endurance standpoint, and is capable of being manufactured without difficulty, but impacts the performance of the tire. In this regard, the pair of stiffening layers is inefficient for transferring radial loads between the two legs. The pair of layers increase the mass of the spoke in this area and in turn increase the rolling resistance of the tire. Additionally, the inclusion of cords oriented at plus and minus 45 degrees to the radial direction increases the axial stiffness of the spokes beyond a desired level.
The configuration of spokes of a non-pneumatic tire can include a nose reinforcement layer that engages both of the legs and extends only a short distance along the legs towards the nose. The nose reinforcement layer does not extend to the feet but is instead only at the nose so as not to add weight to the spokes. Although capable of adding strength to the spokes, the terminal ends create a high stress concentration at their locations that may cause cracking and limit endurance of the spoke. As such, there remains room for variation and improvement within the art.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
The use of identical or similar reference numerals in different figures denotes identical or similar features.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONReference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.
The present invention provides for a spoke 12 of a non-pneumatic tire 10 that includes an extended nose reinforcement 14 that is configured to avoid the introduction of a stress concentration at its radial ends. In this regard, the spoke 12 has first and second panels, that lay against a nose 28, with feet 20, 22 on their ends. The extended nose reinforcement 14 reinforces the spoke 12 at the nose 28 and extends from the first foot 20 across both panels 16, 18 to the second foot 22. The extended nose reinforcement 14 terminates at a location that is between both the first panel 16 and the first foot 20 and terminates at a location that is between both the second panel 18 and the second foot 22. These locations of the terminal ends 72, 74 are low stress areas in the operation of the spoke 12 and stress concentration cracks and failures at the terminal ends 72, 74 of the extended nose reinforcement 14 are reduced or eliminated.
One embodiment of the spoke 12 is shown in
The components of the spoke 12 include a first panel 16 and a second panel 18 that make up the legs of the spoke 12. The first panel 16 has the first foot 20 located on one end that engages the first panel 16 and extends farther in the radial direction 30 than the terminal end of the first panel 16. The second panel 18 has a second foot 22 on one end that engages the second panel 18 and extends farther inward in the radial direction 30 than the terminal end of the second panel 18. The nose 28 is present on one side of the spoke 12 in the circumferential direction 40 and engages the first and second panels 16, 18. To reinforce the spoke 12 at its center section, an extended nose reinforcement 14 is provided and engages both the first and second panels 16, 18. The extended nose reinforcement 14 is on opposite sides of the panels 16, 18 in the circumferential direction 40 from the nose 28. The extended nose reinforcement 14 engages the body 28 as well as the panels 16, 18, but in other embodiments the extended nose reinforcement 14 does not engage (contact) the body 28. It is to be understood that the shape and size of the spoke 12 can be varied in accordance with different exemplary embodiments, and that a variety of spoke 12 configurations are possible.
The extended nose reinforcement 14 is a single, continuous piece that extends all the way from the first foot 20 to the second foot 22. A terminal end 72 is located at the outer end of the extended nose reinforcement 14 in the radial direction 30, and a terminal end 74 is located at the inner end in the radial direction 30. The terminal end 72 is located between the first foot 20 and the first panel 16 so that it goes under the first foot 20 upon extension from the center of the spoke 12. The extended nose reinforcement 14 does not go all the way to the radial end of the first panel 16, but instead stops short of the radial end of the first panel 16 so that the first foot 20 does engage the first panel 16. The positioning of the terminal end 72 may be such that a longer length of the first foot 20 engages the first panel 16 as compared to the length of engagement of the first foot 20 with the extended nose reinforcement 14. The area of the terminal end 72 in the spoke 12 is an area of low stress in the spoke 12 during operation. As such, cracks and other failures of the spoke 12 at the terminal end 72 of the extended nose reinforcement 14 will be reduced or minimized because the terminal end 72 is no longer located at a high stress position in the spoke 12. The arrangement of the terminal ends 72, 74 under the feet 20, 22 increases the endurance of the design. The placement of the terminal ends 72, 74 under the feet 20, 22 locates them in a low stress zone, as compared to being located on the panels 16, 18 but not in engagement with the feet 20, 22 closer to the nose 28.
The terminal end 74 is located between the second foot 22 and the second panel 18 so that it goes under the second foot 22 upon extension from the center of the spoke 12. The extended nose reinforcement 14 does not go all the way to the radial end of the second panel 18 which is closest to the hub 36, but instead stops short of the radial end of the second panel 18 so that the second foot 22 does engage the second panel 18. The positioning of the terminal end 74 may be such that a longer length of the second foot 22 engages the second panel 18 as compared to the length of engagement of the second foot 22 with the extended nose reinforcement 14. The area of the terminal end 74 in the spoke 12 is an area of low stress in the spoke 12 during operation. As such, cracks and other failures of the spoke 12 at the terminal end 74 of the extended nose reinforcement 14 will be reduced or minimized because the terminal end 74 is no longer located at a high stress position in the spoke 12.
The first foot 20 can be variously shaped in accordance with different exemplary embodiments. In the embodiment presented in
The second foot 22 can be arranged in the same manner as the first foot 20 or can be arranged in a different shape in other embodiments. In the
The spoke 12 will become deformed during normal operation of the tire 10 but can maintain a generally V shape at all points in operation. In this regard, the panels 16, 18 are arranged in a generally V shape with the feet 20, 22 at either ends. The first panel 16 has a first panel first surface 46 and an oppositely disposed first panel second surface 48. The first panel first surface 46 engages the extended nose reinforcement 14 and the first foot 20 and is free from contact with the nose 28, and the first panel second surface 48 engages the nose 28 and is free from contact with the first foot 20 and the extended nose reinforcement 14. The second panel 18 has a second panel first surface 50 and an oppositely disposed second panel second surface 52. The second panel first surface 50 engages the extended nose reinforcement 14 and the second foot 22 and does not engage the nose 28, and the second panel second surface 52 is free from engagement with the extended nose reinforcement 14 and the second foot 22 but does engage the nose 28. The first panel second surface 48 faces the second panel second surface 52 in the V shaped configuration, and the first panel first surface 46 and the second panel first surface 50 face away from one another in the V shaped configuration. As shown the extended nose reinforcement 14 engages the entire first panel first surface 46 and second panel first surface 50 except for the portions of these surfaces 46, 50 that engage the feet 20 and 22.
The spoke 12 has an axial direction 32 that is perpendicular to the radial direction 30. The components of the spoke 12 such as the first foot 20, second foot 22, first panel 16, second panel 18, nose 28, and extended nose reinforcement 14 may extend along the entire axial length of the spoke 12 in the axial direction 32. In this regard, the extended nose reinforcement 14 has the same length in the axial direction 32 as does the feet 20, 22 and the panels 16, 18 so that large attachment surfaces are present between the extended nose reinforcement 14 and these components.
The arrangement of cords 42 that have an angle 44 that is zero degrees, hence parallel to the radial direction 30, does not adversely impact the lateral stiffness of the spoke 12 beyond a desirable level. This is because the stiffness of the cords 42 will be directed in the radial direction 30 and not in the axial direction 32 because there is no component of extension of the cords 42 in the axial direction 32. The spoke 12 can be arranged so that only a single extended nose reinforcement 14 is present, and not two or more nose reinforcements. The use of but a single extended nose reinforcement 14 will decrease mass of the spokes 12 and will improve rolling resistance performance.
A still further arrangement of the spoke 12 is illustrated in
The spoke 12 in
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments and methods thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be apparent.
Claims
1. A spoke for a non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
- a nose;
- a first panel that engages the nose and that extends from the nose;
- a second panel that engages the nose and that extends from the nose, wherein the first panel and the second panel are separate pieces;
- a first foot;
- a second foot; and
- an extended nose reinforcement that is a single, continuous piece that engages the first panel, the second panel, the first foot, and the second foot, wherein the extended nose reinforcement is located between the first panel and the first foot, wherein the extended nose reinforcement is located between the second panel and the second foot.
2. The spoke as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended nose reinforcement has a plurality of cords that are oriented at a zero degree angle to a radial direction.
3. The spoke as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plurality of cords are made of nylon.
4. The spoke as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plurality of cords are made of polyester.
5. The spoke as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:
- a first foot layer that engages the first panel and the first foot; and
- a second foot layer that engages the second panel and the second foot.
6. The spoke as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first panel has a first panel first surface and a first panel second surface, wherein the second panel has a second panel first surface and a second panel second surface, wherein the first panel and the second panel are oriented into a V shape, wherein the first panel first surface and the second panel first surface are oriented so as to face away from one another, wherein the first panel second surface and the second panel second surface are oriented so as to face towards one another, and wherein the extended nose reinforcement engages the first panel first surface and the second panel first surface.
7. The spoke as set forth in claim 6, wherein the nose engages the first panel second surface and the second panel second surface.
8. The spoke as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first foot has a first foot glue surface, a first foot first concave surface, and a first foot second concave surface, wherein the first foot second concave surface terminates at the extended nose reinforcement;
- wherein the second foot has a second foot glue surface, a second foot first concave surface, and a second foot second concave surface, wherein the second foot second concave surface terminates at the extended nose reinforcement.
9. The spoke as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first foot first concave surface terminates at the extended nose reinforcement, wherein the second foot first concave surface terminates at the extended nose reinforcement.
10. The spoke as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first foot does not engage the first panel and does not engage the second panel, and wherein the second foot does not engage the first panel and does not engage the second panel.
11. The spoke as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first foot engages the first panel and does not engage the second panel, and wherein the second foot engages the second panel and does not engage the first panel.
12. The spoke as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended nose reinforcement is a continuous piece that extends uninterrupted from the first foot to the second foot.
13. The spoke as set forth in claim 1, wherein the extended nose reinforcement engages the nose.
14. A spoke for a non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
- a nose;
- a first panel that engages the nose and that extends from the nose;
- a second panel that engages the nose and that extends from the nose;
- a first foot;
- a second foot; and
- an extended nose reinforcement that engages the first panel, the second panel, the first foot, and the second foot, wherein the extended nose reinforcement is located between the first panel and the first foot, wherein the extended nose reinforcement is located between the second panel and the second foot;
- wherein the first foot has a first foot glue surface, a first foot first concave surface, and a first foot second concave surface, wherein the first foot second concave surface terminates at the extended nose reinforcement;
- wherein the second foot has a second foot glue surface, a second foot first concave surface, and a second foot second concave surface, wherein the second foot second concave surface terminates at the extended nose reinforcement.
15. A spoke for a non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
- a nose;
- a first panel that engages the nose and that extends from the nose;
- a second panel that engages the nose and that extends from the nose;
- a first foot;
- a second foot; and
- an extended nose reinforcement that engages the first panel, the second panel, the first foot, and the second foot, wherein the extended nose reinforcement is located between the first panel and the first foot, wherein the extended nose reinforcement is located between the second panel and the second foot;
- wherein the first foot engages the first panel and does not engage the second panel, and wherein the second foot engages the second panel and does not engage the first panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2020
Publication Date: Sep 12, 2024
Inventors: Kevin C. MILES (Clemson, SC), Steven M. CRON (Simpsonville, SC)
Application Number: 18/258,429